The first bullet train model built for use overseas opened to a press preview here Friday.
The train, made by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. for Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp., is based on the 700 series shinkansen and has black and orange lines along a white body.
"Japan's shinkansen technology will be exported for the first time, 40 years after the Tokaido Shinkansen Line was inaugurated," Nita Ing, chairwoman of the Taiwan High Speed Rail, said in a speech. "This is of great significance for both Japan and Taiwan."
Taiwan is building a high-speed train system from Taipei to the southern city of Kaohsiung. The trains will run along the 345-km route in about 90 minutes, traveling at speeds of up to 300 kph.
Taiwan High Speed Rail plans to start operating the trains in October 2005. Test runs are scheduled to begin in September.
A consortium of seven Japanese companies won the order for most parts of the project and is scheduled to ship 30 12-coach trains.
The consortium, which includes Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Mitsui & Co. and Toshiba Corp., outbid European and Australian rivals to win the 100 billion yen order.
